A healthy environment is a basic right which we are all entitled to, and should all be able to defend. We believe that individuals and environmental organisations should have the right to challenge decisions that will have a serious impact on our environment and that excessive costs and legal complexities should not stop them from doing so.

Access to Justice for the Environment

Individuals and communities often recognise that they haven't been properly engaged in decisions that affect their environment, or that decisions have been made that will adversely impact on them. But when people and communities try to legally challenge a badly made decision or a damaging development, all kinds of barriers stand in the way.

In fact, the odds are so stacked against the ordinary citizen or community who wants to challenge an environmentally damaging decision or act, that going to court to defend a healthy and clean environment has become a luxury that only the time-and-money-rich can afford.

We believe that individuals, communities and NGOs not only have the right to be involved in planning decisions that affect our environment, but the responsibility too.

When people are enabled to take part in decision-making, this helps to shift the balance of power away from big corporates and developers towards the communities who are affected by these decisions.

We are campaigning for legal changes to ensure that the right to a healthy environment is seen as a fundamental human right. We are calling for full compliance with the Aarhus Convention, an international treaty that enshrines rights of participation, information and access to justice in environmental matters.

When people are enabled to take part in decision making, this helps to shift the balance of power away from big corporates and developers towards the communities who are affected by these decisions.

An Environmental Rights Centre for Scotland

We are working with Scottish Environment LINK to build the case for an Environmental Rights Centre for Scotland. In December 2016 we held a seminar with community, NGO, legal and academic stakeholders to help develop our thinking. The seminar confirmed our sense of strong need for an Environmental Rights Centre and demonstrated broad support for the initiative.

An Environmental Court for Scotland

Specialist Environmental Courts or Tribunals can be a highly effective way to ensure better access to justice for citizens and communities trying to protect their environment. They can also provide a speedier, more cost-effective system, and a more level-playing field for developers and operators.

We are calling for a specialist environmental court or tribunal for Scotland that is rooted in Aarhus principles of environmental rights and protection.

How to speak up for people and the planet when there’s a development proposal near you

A planning application can come from a business, an individual or an organisation. There are a lot of factors involved in deciding whether a development is right for your community and the environment and whether it is something you want to speak up on.

Find out more about the Aarhus Convention

The Aarhus Convention on Access to Information, Public Participation in Decision-Making and Access to Justice in Environmental Matters is an inspirational UN Treaty that establishes critical environmental rights and underpins our work in this area.